Ayers, Richard Lee, Col

Capt. Robert E. Rausch was the pilot and Major Richard L. Ayers the Weapons/Systems officer of an RF4C Phantom from the 12th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron based at Tan Son Nhut Airbase, South Vietnam. On April 16, 1970, an RF-4C with a two man crew of Major Ayers and Captain Rausch departed Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Saigon to conduct reconnaissance along the Demilitarized Zone separating North and South Vietnam as well as the adjacent area of Savannakhet Province, Laos. Subsequent to their disappearance, Radio Hanoi's domestic service reported its forces had shot down an RF-4C in the Vinh Linh Special Zone, the North Vietnamese side of the DMZ, on the afternoon of April 16, 1970.  This report was correlated to the loss of Major Ayers' aircraft. On April 17, 1970, a People's Army of Vietnam unit radioed a report concerning four recent U.S. aircraft shoot downs.  Three of the aircraft were F-4 and the completely burned remains of one crewman were found in one F-4 crash site wreckage.  The pilot of the fourth aircraft, an RF-4C, was also killed.  The portion of this radio message dealing with the RF-4C was believed associated with Major Ayers' shoot down even though People's Army forces only reported (one) pilot killed.

This Veteran has an (IMO) In Memory Of Headstone in Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial, Hawaii with another memorial in Fort Sam Houston Cemetery, San Antonio, TX.
 

10 Jun 2004 REMEMBERED by a friend. rdheubner@aol.com 18 Mar 2005

I have this Hero's POW/MIA Bracelet. I wore it till it cracked. It rests on my dresser.
You are forever in my mind, heart, and soul. You will NEVER BE FORGOTTEN

Maureen Doig Moore erinslass60@aol.com 03 Nov 2006 I proudly wore Colonel Ayers' POW/MIA bracelet for many years. I have thought about him frequently over the years but quite regularly during the Iraq War. My prayers are with his family.

Lisa Peacock peahen59@aol.com 29 May 2007 As I hold Richard Ayers' bracelet in my hand, I think about all of the joys and sorrows he never had the chance to experience while we have had the privilege to experience ours. My very heartfelt thanks to you, Richard Ayers.

Teri S. Neff Springfield, Ill. teri.neff@insightbb.com On 16 Apr 1970 an RF-4C (tail number 66-0409) of the 12th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron was lost while on a photo recon mission in the southern Laos/DMZ area. The aircraft's last known position was west of Tavouac, near the A Shau Valley. The two crewmen were classed as Missing in Action and remained in that status until the Secretary of the Air Force approved Presumptive Findings of Death for them on the dates indicated:

* Colonel Richard L. Ayers, Waterloo, IA (06/29/1978)
* Major Robert E. Rausch, Hicksville, NY (10/09/1973)

Their remains have not been repatriated.